From Office to Oasis: 9 Gifts Transforming Work Spaces
We asked founders and business owners for their best gift ideas to create a relaxing office oasis for workaholics. From creating a desk-friendly zen garden to gifting a speedy recovery kit, here are nine unique ways to transform a workspace.
- A Desk-Friendly Zen Garden
- Custom Candle Scents
- A Wall of Living Plants
- A Mini Slushi Machine
- A Desktop Fountain
- A Meditation Nook and Desk Organizer
- A Bonsai Tree
- An Essential Oil Diffuser
- A Speedy Recovery Kit
A Desk-Friendly Zen Garden
I once helped transform a workaholic employee’s workspace into a more relaxing environment by gifting a desk-friendly Zen garden. The idea was to create a small, calming oasis within their busy work area. Along with the Zen garden, I included a set of aromatherapy diffusers with calming scents like lavender and eucalyptus, encouraging mindfulness breaks throughout the day.
The Zen garden gave the employee a tactile, peaceful distraction during stressful moments, while the essential oils added a calming atmosphere. Together, these gifts helped the employee take small, rejuvenating breaks without leaving their desk, reducing stress and improving focus.
Over time, the employee reported feeling less overwhelmed, more balanced, and able to step away from the constant pressures of work, even for just a few moments each day. This thoughtful combination turned their workspace into a mini-oasis, promoting relaxation without sacrificing productivity.
Ana Alipat
Recruitment Team Lead, Dayjob Recruitment
Custom Candle Scents
As a co-founder of a candle company that transforms spaces, I’ve gifted workaholics calming scents and ambiance. For one client’s office, I chose a candle with notes of lavender and chamomile, the aromatherapy equivalent of a bubble bath. Within days, her stress levels dropped, and productivity soared. She said it was like “a spa treatment for my mind.”
In another case, a client wanted their office to feel like a cozy book nook. I gave them a candle with the warm, comforting scent of aged paper and leather. Together with a soft blanket, it created an inviting space where creativity flowed freely. The client reported their team was more engaged and collaborative.
Lighting a candle may seem simple, but choosing a scent custom to a client’s needs creates an oasis amid the busyness of work. The solutions are custom, but the outcomes are the same: a rejuvenating environment where work feels inspired and balanced. For workaholics, a thoughtfully designed space amplifies well-being and joy in what they do. The gift of ambiance yields rewards that long outlast the flame.
Roxie Lubanovic
Co-Founder, Frostbeard Studio
A Wall of Living Plants
As an architect focused on sustainable design, I know that improving workspace comfort often comes down to enhancing natural elements. For a workaholic client, I gifted an entire wall of living plants that required zero maintenance. The plants were beautiful and created an organic, calming atmosphere.
Within a week, the client said productivity skyrocketed, and stress plummeted. The greenery made the small office feel like an open, natural space where creativity flowed freely. My client started spending more time socializing with coworkers in the space.
For another client, I incorporated an open-air atrium at the center of their office. Employees could step into the space for breaks, enjoying warm sunlight and fresh air. The atrium became a hub of spontaneity and inspiration. One client said it felt like “working at a mountain retreat.”
Optimizing the environment through sustainable design yields huge benefits. A comfortable, natural workspace clears the mind and makes work feel like a reward. Small changes, like plants or natural light, can transform a workaholic’s office into an oasis of productivity and well-being. The solution is custom to client needs, but the outcome is always the same: an office that invigorates rather than drains.
Pam Hutter
Principal, Hutter Architects
A Mini Slushi Machine
I once gifted a colleague a mini slushi machine for his desk, and it brought instant joy to the whole workplace. This particular colleague was renowned for his workaholism and for never taking breaks. The slushi machine was the perfect gift for two reasons: firstly, it was such an unexpected and fun gift that his reaction was priceless; and secondly, it enforced breaks and social interactions as the whole office enjoyed using the gift. It brought everyone closer together and forced my colleague to switch off from working occasionally.
Friday afternoon slushies became a regular thing, and sometimes people even brought cake. It made him very popular in our office. Sometimes a gift can completely change the whole workplace.
Emma West
Founder and CMO, pogofandango
A Desktop Fountain
I have often come across clients who are workaholics and spend most of their time in their office space. These individuals are extremely dedicated to their work, but at the same time, they neglect their physical and mental well-being.
One specific example that comes to mind is when I gifted my client a small desktop fountain for his home office. This simple yet thoughtful gift added an element of tranquility to his otherwise hectic work life. The soothing sound of running water not only created a peaceful atmosphere but also acted as a white noise machine, drowning out any external distractions.
Moreover, the fountain also served as a beautiful decorative piece, adding a touch of nature to the office space. My client was delighted with the gift and thanked me for helping him transform his workspace into an oasis.
Danny Colacicco
Founder & CEO, Panda Pro Home Buyers
A Meditation Nook and Desk Organizer
As a general contractor, I often encounter clients struggling to find balance between work and rest. For one client, a real estate broker, I converted a neglected office closet into a plush meditation nook as a surprise gift.
With natural wooden shelves, cozy floor pillows, soft string lighting, and an essential oil diffuser, this space provided an escape from the demands of her job. She reported feeling recharged and refreshed after short breaks in her new sanctuary, with greater focus and clarity upon returning to work.
Little details encouraging self-care and renewal can work wonders. For another client, a senior marketing executive, I crafted a custom desk organizer featuring compartments for office supplies, important documents, and personal mementos like family photos. Having these reminders of life outside work within view brought her joy and comfort amid long hours.
Personalized gifts nurturing work-life balance transform spaces into oases sustaining health, productivity, and purpose. My renovations aim to craft environments where both personal and professional thriving can blossom.
Brayden Montgomery
Owner, Vantage Builders
A Bonsai Tree
One time, I helped transform a workaholic client’s office by gifting them a bonsai tree. As a certified arborist, I knew the calming effect of having living plants around, and a bonsai added a touch of nature without taking up much space. It provided a peaceful focal point that encouraged mindfulness during their busy day.
The client later shared that taking care of the bonsai gave them moments of relaxation, making the office feel less like a place of stress and more like a calming retreat. This simple addition truly turned their workspace into an oasis.
Amaury Ponce
Business Owner, Ponce Tree Services
An Essential Oil Diffuser
I once worked with a client who was a classic workaholic, constantly on the go and barely taking time to breathe. His office was cluttered and chaotic, contributing to his stress. To help him create a more relaxing environment, I gifted him a high-quality essential oil diffuser. The simple addition of calming scents like lavender and eucalyptus transformed his workspace into a more serene and peaceful setting.
Not only did it improve his mood, but it also encouraged him to take small breaks throughout the day, helping him maintain balance and ultimately increase his productivity. This small gesture created a significant shift in how he interacted with his workspace.
Ronald Osborne
Founder, Ronald Osborne Business Coach
A Speedy Recovery Kit
Being in the gifting space, we’ve curated some beautiful gift hampers. There’s a particular gift hamper that we take pride in. As a gift to his colleague, we curated a “Speedy Recovery Kit” that consisted of healthy cookies, green tea, a flask, and candles, along with a small, cute waterfall gift—it basically lit up in different shades and had calming waterfall music—along with a candle that smelled like the ocean breeze.
Now the waterfall is on his desktop, and we’ve gotten a couple more orders for the same. It’s indeed a stress-buster and has made the office more relaxing, calmer, and better.
Ridhi Rathi
Entrepreneur, Leoberry Gifts
Submit Your Answer
Would you like to submit an alternate answer to the question, “How have you transformed a workaholic’s office space into a more relaxing environment through gifting? Share a specific example of a gift that made a workspace feel like an oasis.”
